Eyeing state and national championships, Columbus basketball dominates Montverde Academy
The Columbus basketball team is once again playing its best basketball down the stretch of a season.
It’s why the Explorers are three-time defending state champions and the landslide favorite to secure a fourth this coming March.
And it’s why this could be they secure the missing piece that’s eluded them - a national title.
Columbus stepped on its home court on Friday night as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation.
And the Explorers played like they deserved that lofty status in front of a sold-out home gym in a game televised nationally on ESPN2.
Led by Duke University signees Cameron and Cayden Boozer and a dynamic performance by 5-star junior Jaxson Richardson, Columbus dominated fellow national powerhouse Montverde Academy during a 79-59 victory.
Cameron Boozer totaled 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting, and collected 14 rebounds while Richardson finished with 23 points on 11 of 12 shooting. Cayden Boozer scored 13 points and had seven assists.
The Explorers, ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps, following an impressive performance last week at the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts, beat the Eagles (13-4), ranked No. 3 by ESPN, for the second time this season.
But Columbus controlled the game much more in the second encounter than it did when it won the first meeting 59-57 at the City of Palms Invitational on Dec. 23.
The Explorers (18-3), who chose not to play in this week’s GMAC tournament, led wire-to-wire as Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 overall prospect in the nation per ESPN, set the tone early at both ends. Columbus led by double-digits from the midway point of the second quarter onward.
Kayden Allen, the No. 16 overall 2026 prospect per ESPN, led Montverde with 15 points and Creighton commit Hudson Greer had 12 points on four 3-pointers.
Former Riviera Prep star and two-time Miami Herald Player of the Year Dante Allen started for Montverde, but finished with six points and struggled from the field, shooting 2 for 10.
“I think we’re the best team in the country and capable of going all the way,” Boozer said postgame on ESPN’s broadcast. “We just have to clean up some things, but we’re hitting our stride now and just continuing to get better.”
Richardson, ranked No. 13 in the nation by ESPN for the class of 2026, delivered multiple highlight-reel fast break dunks including a windmill jam late in the game. Caleb Gaskins, the No. 8 overall 2026 prospect per ESPN, also finished with 14 points.
The Explorers are aiming to become only the second Miami-Dade County team to win four consecutive state titles, joining Miami Norland (2012-2015).
But Columbus has its sights set on more with its recent ascension back to the top national ranking.
The Explorers have two regular season games remaining against Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (Tuesday) and Missouri’s Link Academy, ranked No. 5 nationally by MaxPreps (Jan. 31) before they begin postseason play the following week.
Should they successfully navigate the seven-game state playoff road, which ends in Lakeland in early March, Columbus is likely to be selected to the Chipotle Nationals on April 3-5 in Fishers, Indiana.
The Explorers would then compete for a national championship and could conceivably even face Montverde Academy for a third time should it also be invited.
